Minnesota Administrative Rules

4640.2700 NURSERY DEPARTMENT.

Subpart 1.

Newborn nursery.

Each hospital with a maternity service shall provide at least one newborn nursery for the exclusive use of well infants delivered within the institution. The number of bassinets provided shall be at least equal to the number of maternity beds. Each nursery shall be provided with a lavatory with gooseneck spout and other than hand-operated faucets.

It is recommended that each newborn nursery be limited to 12 bassinets. An exit door from the nursery into the corridor is recommended for emergency use.

Subp. 2.

Nursery space of new hospitals.

In hospitals constructed after the effective date of these rules, the total nursery space, exclusive of the workroom, shall provide a floor area of at least 24 square feet for each bassinet, with a distance of at least two feet between each bassinet and an aisle space of at least three feet.

Subp. 3.

Nursery space of existing hospitals.

Hospitals operating as of the effective date of these rules shall comply with subpart 2, to the extent possible, but no hospital shall have a nursery area which provides less than 18 inches between each bassinet and an aisle space of at least three feet, exclusive of the workroom or work area.

Subp. 4.

Bassinet.

Each bassinet shall be mounted on a single stand and be removable to facilitate cleaning.

Subp. 5.

Observation window.

An observation window shall be installed between the corridor and nursery for the viewing of infants.

Subp. 6.

Incubators.

Each nursery department shall have one or more incubators whereby temperature, humidity, and oxygen can be controlled and measured.

Subp. 7.

Premature nursery.

A separate premature nursery and workroom are recommended for hospitals with 25 or more maternity beds on the basis of 30 square feet per incubator and a maximum of six incubators per nursery.

It is recommended that the oxygen concentration be checked by measurement with an oxygen analyzer at least every eight hours or that an incubator-attached, minus 40 percent oxygen concentration limiting device be used.

Subp. 8.

Examination and workroom.

An adjoining examination and workroom shall be provided for each nursery or between each two nurseries. The workroom shall be of adequate size to provide facilities necessary to prepare personnel for work in the nursery, for the examination and treatment of infants by physicians, for charting, for storage of nursery linen, for disposal of soiled linen, for storage and dispensing of feedings, and for initial rinsing of bottles and nipples. Each workroom shall be provided with a scrub-up sink having foot, knee, or elbow action controls; counter with counter sink having a gooseneck spout and other than hand-operated controls.

Hospitals operating as of the effective date of these rules shall comply with regulation subpart 2, to the extent possible, but if a separate examination and workroom is not provided, there shall be a segregated examination and work area in the nursery. The work area shall be of adequate size and provide the facilities and equipment necessary to prepare personnel for work in the nursery, for the examination and treatment of infants by physicians, for storage of nursery linen, and for the dispensing of feedings.

Subp. 9.

Formula preparation.

Space and equipment for cleanup, preparation, and refrigeration to be used exclusively for infant formulas shall be provided apart from care areas and apart from other food service areas. A registered nurse or a dietitian shall be responsible for the formula preparation. A separate formula room is recommended; terminal sterilization is recommended.

Subp. 10.

Suspect nursery or room.

There shall be a room available for the care of newborn infants suspected of having a communicable disease and for newborn infants admitted from the outside. Where a suspect nursery is available, it shall provide 40 square feet per bassinet with a maximum of six bassinets and have a separate workroom. Isolation technique shall be used in the suspect nursery.

Subp. 11.

Isolation.

Infants found to have an infectious condition shall be transferred promptly to an isolation area elsewhere in the hospital.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 144.55; 144.56

Published Electronically:

November 12, 1997